Authority, credentials, and scope
Regulator, governing authority, credential names, regulated titles, scope boundaries, exemptions, and prohibited activities.
Credential and title authority
Published research · ConfirmedNYSED states that a New York license is required to practice mental health counseling or use the licensed title unless a statutory exemption applies.
- Applies to
- Use for LMHC, Mental Health Counselor Limited Permit, Diagnostic Privilege research in NY.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Application and practice status
Application, education, examination, background check, fees, temporary authority, endorsement, and supervised versus independent practice.
Experience route
Published research · ConfirmedThe LMHC experience route requires 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact.
- Applies to
- Use for LMHC, Mental Health Counselor Limited Permit, Diagnostic Privilege research in NY.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Supervision and workforce evidence
Supervisor qualifications, written agreements, settings, hours, reporting, license verification, and hiring or credentialing evidence.
Diagnostic privilege
Published research · ConfirmedSince June 24, 2024, eligible LMHCs may apply for a separate privilege to diagnose and develop assessment-based treatment plans.
- Applies to
- Use for LMHC, Mental Health Counselor Limited Permit, Diagnostic Privilege research in NY.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- 2024-06-24
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Cross-border and practice structure
Telehealth location rules, registration, compact privileges, ownership, entity naming, fee sharing, and multidisciplinary practice.
Cross-border practice
Open implementation issue · QualifiedNYSED treats service to a client located in New York as New York practice; the reviewed compact proposal is not current practice authority.
- Applies to
- Use for LMHC, Mental Health Counselor Limited Permit, Diagnostic Privilege research in NY.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Client-facing operations and records
Disclosure, consent, telehealth, emergencies, advertising, confidentiality, access, retention, minors, subpoenas, closure, fees, billing, and termination.
Credential and title authority
Published research · ConfirmedNYSED states that a New York license is required to practice mental health counseling or use the licensed title unless a statutory exemption applies.
- Applies to
- Use for LMHC, Mental Health Counselor Limited Permit, Diagnostic Privilege research in NY.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11
Maintenance, complaints, and monitoring
Renewal, continuing education, audits, inactive status, reinstatement, complaints, discipline, effective dates, exclusions, and unresolved interpretations.
Experience route
Published research · ConfirmedThe LMHC experience route requires 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact.
- Applies to
- Use for LMHC, Mental Health Counselor Limited Permit, Diagnostic Privilege research in NY.
- Known exclusions
- A payer, facility, employer, local government, or another professional board may impose additional requirements.
- Effective date
- No separate future date recorded
- Fact checked
- 2026-08-11